Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2017-18 | Hawk Talk Monthly — January 2018 | Windy City Invitational Notes
THIS WEEK
The eighth-ranked University of Iowa men’s gymnastics team begins its 2018 regular season in Chicago at the Windy City Invitational hosted by UIC on Saturday, Jan. 13 inside Navy Pier. Competition is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. (CT).
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow the meet online through live stats. A link to live stats is available on the Iowa men’s gymnastics schedule page at hawkeyesports.com. Fans can also follow along with live updates on Twitter (@mensgymiowa) and Facebook (iowamensgymnastics).
SEASON TICKETS
- Season tickets are $25 and all seating is general admission. Youth ages 18 and under and UI students receive free admission to all regular season home meets.
- Fans can purchase season tickets now at hawkeyesports.com/tickets, by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS, or at the UI Athletics Ticket Office at the North Entrance of Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
IN THE RANKINGS
Iowa enters the 2017 season ranked eighth in the College Men’s Gymnastics Association Pre-Season Coaches Poll and sixth in the Big Ten Coaches’ Preseason Poll. The Hawkeyes ended the 2017 season ranked seventh nationally.
SCOUTING THE FIELD
The Hawkeyes face No. 4 Minnesota, No. 5 Illinois and No. 17 UIC. All four teams are opening the season at the Windy City Invitational.
TWO HAWKEYES NAMED TO WATCH LIST
Junior Rogelio Vazquez and freshman Bennet Huang were named to the 2018 Big Ten Men’s Gymnasts to Watch list, the conference office announced Dec. 14.
- Vazquez tied for 15th on parallel bars during day one of the 2017 Big Ten and NCAA Championships and went on to finish 40th on parallel bars during the second day of the NCAA Championships.
- Huang, one of three freshmen on the list, is a five-time Junior National Team member, and a seven-time Northern California all-around champion. He was the all-around, floor, and pommel horse champion at the 2017 Junior Olympic Nationals.
HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS
The Hawkeyes welcome four freshmen to the team in 2017: Addison Chung, Bennet Huang, Kulani Taylor, Dominic Tommasone.
- Chung competed at the 2015 P&G Championships, placing eighth. He was on the Junior National team in 2015.
- Huang, a five-time Junior National Team member, was the all-around, floor, and pommel horse champion at the 2017 Junior Olympic Nationals.
- Taylor finished third on floor at the 2017 Junior Olympic Nationals.
- Tommasone was runner-up in the all-around at the 2016 Junior Olympic Nationals.
RETURNING EXPERIENCE
Iowa returns 12-of-17 gymnasts from last season. Redshirt senior Mark Springett, seniors Dylan Ellsworth and Austin Hodges, juniors Kevin Johnson and Rogelio Vazquez, and sophomore Nick Merryman look to continue their impressive showings from day two of the NCAA Championships last year. Springett tied for 26th on rings (13.800), Ellsworth finshed 18th on vault (14.450), Hodges tied for 27th on pommel horse (13.500), Johnson finished 45th on pommel horse (11.300), Vazquez ended up in 40th on parallel bars (13.100), and Merryman finished 27th on pommel horse (12.950).
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
The 2018 men’s gymnastics team breaks down into one redshirt senior, three seniors, three juniors, five sophomores, and four freshmen.
2017 SEASON IN REVIEW
- In 2017, the Hawkeyes made their 18th straight NCAA Championship appearance. During session II at the NCAA Championships, Iowa placed fourth for the second straight year in the NCAA Qualifier with a score of 412.500. The Hawkeyes qualified eight gymnasts for a total of 17 routines for day two of the NCAA Championships. Iowa was led by Andrew Botto who competed in the all-around and placed 14th for the Hawkeyes.
- During the Big Ten Championships, Cory Paterson led the way for Iowa, earning the first All-Big Ten recognition of his career with a runner-up result of 14.350 on high bar. Sophomore Jake Brodarzon was awarded with Iowa’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award following the meet.
7 GYMNASTS NAMED ALL-AMERICAN SCHOLAR ATHLETES
Andrew Botto, Austin Hodges, Josh Zeal, Cory Paterson, Mark Springett, Jake Brodarzon, and Brandon Wong were named All-American Scholar Athletes for the 2017 season by the College Gymnastics Association. Botto, Hodges, and Zeal earned first team All-American Schoar Athletes honors while Paterson, Springett, Brodarzon, and Wong earned second team All-American Scholar Athlete honors.
DUNN INDUCTED TO 2017 HALL OF FAME
Former University of Iowa men’s gymnastics head coach Tom Dunn was inducted to the National Iowa Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame on Sept.1 . Dunn led the Iowa men’s gymnastics program to 18 top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships before retiring in 2010 as the “Dean” of Hawkeye head coaches. Dunn took over the Iowa program in 1981 and led the Hawkeyes to Big Ten titles in 1986 and 1998. Under his leadership, Iowa won five individual NCAA titles, 35 Big Ten individual tiles, and earned 67 All-America honors. He was named Big Ten Coach of the Year three times (1997, 1998, 2006), and earned regional Coach of the Year honors in 1986, 1998, and 2006.
FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
For an inside look at the Iowa men’s gymnastics program and access to exclusive coverage, “like” Iowa Men’s Gymnastics on Facebook and follow @mensgymiowa on Twitter and @iowamgym on Instagram.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to Chicago to face UIC on Jan. 21. Competition is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. (CT) at the UIC Pavilion.
